If you're tax bill is $6-8k (minus the 1031 fees), surely you can make that up by taking multiple swings over a longer period of time.OR pursue some sort of owner occupied strategy with that cash if you can swing a live in flip or house hack.

I see a disservice being provided in the given example by the real estate agent by not bringing creative strategies on both the sellers and buyers position on this particular deal.

Lastly this is my first post here so apologies in advance if I posted this wrong or in the wrong place  House hacking is perhaps the best strategy to get started in real estate.

Many different strategies to choose from.What are you doing in Sacramento?

My goal is to build a data-driven tool that provides actionable insights into which neighborhoods and property types are in the highest demand, based on metrics like:Time on market: How quickly rentals are being leased.Property characteristics: Bedrooms, bathrooms, size, and amenities.Pricing trends: Rental rates relative to market demand and property features.Visual quality: Leveraging property photos to analyze the style and condition of rentals that perform well.The tool will allow users to:Pinpoint areas with the fastest rental turnovers.Understand what types of properties (size, price range, features) rent the quickest.Gain deeper insights into property presentation and amenities that correlate with high demand.Thank you in advance for your feedback.

A duplex strategy is a low-risk entry, saving on living expenses.

I've made that mistake in the past and agree that it's not typically a tactful strategy.

It is most important that you have a clear understanding of the type property and the strategy you want to use (FLIP, LONG TERM BUY AND HOLD, STR, MTR).  

I love section 8 but it comes with positives and negatives just like any other strategy.

Look at their marketing strategy.